That’s puto … one of my fave “kakanins”.

Some people love eating that together with dinuguan, but not me, really. Maybe it’s because at my place we usually have that as a snack without the dinuguan. It tastes much better at times topped with butter and if it’s still steaming hot you can see the butter melt …. yummy! I really like the “old” recipe which uses rice because you can feel the texture when you bite into it; some recipes use super-fine flour and I guess that’s why it’s so smooth. Me and my “old-fashioned” food, huh? …

This brought back wonderful memories … what’s interesting about the recipe below is that it uses anis seeds (but it’s optional); something which my mom’s side of the family uses whenever they make their own kakanins.

Below is a recipe taken from this site:

Puto (Rice Muffins)

Ingredients:
2 cups rice flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup white sugar
2 cups coconut milk
1 teaspoon anise seeds (optional)
1 cup grated coconut (or coconut flakes)

Sift first four ingredients together. In a mixing bowl, add coconut milk to sifted ingredients and blend well to make a smooth mixture. Add anise seeds. Mix and blend thoroughly and fill greased muffin pans 2/3 full. Cook in a steamer for 30 minutes. Test for doneness. Muffins are done when toothpick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Serve hot topped with grated coconut, or butter.

(Recipe from Reynaldo Alejandro’s excellent The Philippine Cookbook )
Food Friday

Have you ever tried playing in one of those online casino sites? I haven’t. I guess it’s because I know so little about them. Lately, though, an online friend has been telling me about them and that they could be fun. I guess they could be, specially if you’ve got the extra money!

They do interest me, though, so occasionally I try to read some of the online casino reviews when I’ve got the time. I know it will be ages before I’d try betting on those sites, but for now I am really enjoying myself just doing some readings. Or learning some more about them, little by little. I’m not in a hurry to go and bet right now since I’m having fun learning!

Hopefully, when I’ve got enough courage to bet real money my online friend will be there with me. I’m not sure if that’s possible, but it would be nice having somebody with you on your first bet! But like what I said earlier, am not in a hurry.